Endoscopic procedures

On May 31, 2022, the French National Authority for Health (HAS) published the final positive opinion on the coverage of the endoscopic gastroplasty with the ENDOMINA triangulation platform under the Innovation package (Forfait innovation).

In May 2022, the National Institute for Health and Care Research in England released three MedTech-related reports in its Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Journal, which concerned colonoscopy surveillance following adenoma removal and transfer of thawed frozen embryo versus fresh embryo to improve the healthy baby rate in women undergoing IVF, and digital smartphone intervention for schizophrenia. HTA Journal publishes research reports on the effectiveness, costs, and broader impact of health technologies for those who use, manage, and provide care in the NHS and informs National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance.

The French National Authority for Health (HAS) released new recommendations about add-on reimbursement of medical devices and medical aids from the meetings of the National Commission for Evaluation of Medical Devices and Health Technologies (CNEDiMTS) in April 2022. Thirty recommendations were published in relation to the registration, modification of registration conditions, and renewal of registration for devices in the List of reimbursable products and services (LPPR). Opinions concern cardiovascular and peripheral vascular, orthopedic, neurovascular, and neuromodulation and other devices, as well as medical aids.

In March 2022, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published five new Interventional Procedure Guidance (endoscopic balloon dilation for subglottic or tracheal stenosis, intramedullary distraction for lower limb lengthening, endoscopic full thickness removal of gastrointestinal stromal tumors of the stomach, percutaneous insertion of a cystic duct stent after cholecystostomy, and liposuction for chronic lipoedema), four new Medical Technologies Guidance (myCOPD, UroShield, Prontosan for wounds, and 3C Patch for diabetic foot ulcers), one new Diagnostic Guidance (terminated assessment of Freelite assays for multiple myeloma), and six new Medtech Innovation Briefings (Genedrive MT-RNR1 ID System, icobrain for multiple sclerosis, Al for analyzing chest X-ray images, and others). Also, three new clinical guidelines were published, and six were updated.

On March 31, 2022, NHS Digital released HRG4+ Local Payment Grouper for 2022/23 for use from April 01, 2022. In general, there are significant changes in base HRG design. A total of 120 new HRGs were created, and multiple HRGs were removed, so the total number increased by 62 from 2,838 to 2,900.

In March 2022, NHS England and NHS Improvement published the MedTech Funding Mandate (MTFM) policy for 2022/23, which will come into force on April 01, 2022. The MTFM launched in 2021 to support NICE-approved and cost-saving devices, diagnostics, and digital products. Commissioners must fund technologies included in MTFM.

On March 4, 2022, the Dutch Healthcare Institute (Zorginstituut Nederland, ZIN) announced three projects which received a subsidy under the "Subsidy scheme for promising care" in 2022 for research of a new minimally invasive endoscopy-guided surgery in patients with spontaneous cerebral hemorrhage, oral immunotherapy in children to cure a food allergy and cutting the diaphragm band in chronic abdominal complaints.

In February 2022, the Finnish Coordinating Center for Health Technology Assessment announced the release of the seven accomplished rapid hospital assessments performed by the Helsinki, Tampere, and Oulu University Hospital. The accomplished rapid HTAs concern the diagnostic imaging, e-Health, endocrine, endoscopy, men’s health, neuromodulation technology groups.

On February 16, 2022, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) has published the decisions which recommended the transfer to standard care for three completed projects. The projects relate to the prevention of antibiotic resistance, improvement of healthcare in socially disadvantaged areas, and misuse of control colonoscopies in Germany.

On January 28, 2022, the Institute for the Hospital Remuneration System (InEK) has published the list of the requests for innovation funding (NUB) that were submitted by the hospitals in 2021. The medical technologies belonging to the cardiovascular, ENT, eHealth, gastrointestinal, neuromodulation, neurovascular, orthopedic, and other technology groups obtained positive status 1.

In December 2021, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published two new Interventional Procedure Guidance (endobronchial nerve ablation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and transanal total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer), two new Medical Technologies Guidance (ClearGuard HD antimicrobial barrier caps, and Endo-SPONGE for treating low rectal anastomotic leak), and one new Medtech Innovation Briefings (FreeO2 automatic oxygen titration). Also, one new clinical guideline was published, and five were updated.

On December 9, 2021, the Danish Treatment Council (Behandlingsråd), during its meeting, approved three topics selected for developing the so-called major analyses (større analyser) in 2022. The approved topics include handheld focused ultrasound in emergency medicine, artificial intelligence (AI) as decision support for colonoscopy, and intelligent/high-tech beds for use in intensive care units.